looking for any info on the quality/authenticity of this pot. Thanks a lot!!

[mhegara]

hi everyone! recently got this teapot. I would really like to know your opinions on it if possible. thanks!!

[.m.]

recently got this teapot.

Looks like a modern one to me.

[mhegara]

recently got this teapot.

Looks like a modern one to me.

low quality then?

[Bok]

Doesn’t look promising, the attempts at faking patina looks as if done to pass it off as antique… clay doesn’t look like Yixing to me, at least not good quality.

[OCTO]

Looks modern to me.

[Allegria]

I am absolutely no expert, but I'm wondering about the seals. The right hand one seems to say Mèng Chén (孟臣) but I have so far not yet seen any version attributed to him in seal script, so far I've ever only seen handwritten signing. But obviously the pot is much too young for being his work.
The sign in the leaf on the left could be ​Xiāng (​香), have seen that once that there was an additional "leaf" seal (of a "disciple" or factory that is the true pot maker) but the leaf had a different form (longer).

[steanze]

I am absolutely no expert, but I'm wondering about the seals. The right hand one seems to say Mèng Chén (孟臣) but I have so far not yet seen any version attributed to him in seal script, so far I've ever only seen handwritten signing. But obviously the pot is much too young for being his work.
The sign in the leaf on the left could be ​Xiāng (​香), have seen that once that there was an additional "leaf" seal (of a "disciple" or factory that is the true pot maker) but the leaf had a different form (longer).

As others mentioned, this teapot is a modern replica, and not a very convincing one. Therefore, analyzing the seals won't be very helpful. Both seals are imitations of antique seals, and have no relation with the person (or more likely the factory) that made this teapot. Variants of the Meng Chen seal were used not only by Meng Chen, but by countless craftsmen afterwards and by mass produced teapots from Yixing Factory 1. As well as by modern replicas as in this case. The leaf seal was used in the late Qing period, but this is clearly a replica.

[Bok]

Mèng Chén (孟臣) but I have so far not yet seen any version attributed to him in seal script, so far I've ever only seen handwritten signing. But obviously the pot is much too young for being his work.
The sign in the leaf on the left could be ​Xiāng (​香), have seen that once that there was an additional "leaf" seal (of a "disciple" or factory that is the true pot maker) but the leaf had a different form (longer).

Never focus on the seal to authenticate a teapot. Mengchen(among other famous mythical makers of the past) seals, have been hand written, carved, chopped in wood/stone, etc. on Yixing and also on Shantou teaware for centuries on end... but not often this badly as on this pot It is the last thing to consider on a pot if all else seems correct. Leaves are seen in many variations as well, only helpful if you have seen and catalgoued a huge variety of them on confirmed pieces.

[OCTO]

+1 @Bok @steanze

Placing an assumption in place that everyone has different levels of knowledge in Yixing pots and more so antique Yixing pots. We can always fall back on basic observation and common sense. Various cleaning methods have been discussed in this Forum and every single methods will involve some level of contact with water and planing agents.

hi everyone! recently got this teapot. I would really like to know your opinions on it if possible. thanks!!

This photo shows the body of the pot spanking clean. But the grooves of the seal mark remains black... almost to the point un touched. In my limited knowledge in liquid cleaning agents, it doesn't perform selective cleaning. Either that, or the grooves were lined in wax. Both possibilities are red flags to me.

Hence, the conclusion that his pot doesn't portray that it is an authentic antique teapot.

Coming back to your question....

hi everyone! recently got this teapot. I would really like to know your opinions on it if possible. thanks!!

My personal opinion stands... If this pot brews good tea, it's a good pot. The tea journey is extremely exciting and old Yixing is only a small branch from a majestic Oak Tree. Enjoy the process, enjoy the journey. Make new friends one cup at a time. OK, I'm blabbering too much....

Cheers!!

[mhegara]

thanks everyone for your response! as always I'm grateful to find so much support in this community. About the teapot: actually the vendor sold it as a modern item and not an antique one. The vendor isn't an yixing focused one, is a generic antique vendor, and he surely didn't clean the pot prior to selling it/photographing it so the dirt on the bottom of the pot could be dirt maybe. Actually the pot didn't seem that bad clay wise and, in my humble and surely not expert opinion, I saw signs of a not slip casted/ molded teapot and saw signs of hand work instead... also the clay didn't seem too bad comparing it on resources I found on internet. Anyway, I obviously trust your concordant comments more than my opinion as your are extremely more expert than me, and again thank you for the insights and time!!

[.m.]

Funny it comes from the very same vendor from whom you've already got one very similar modern pot in the past. Good that you've asked early this time.

[mhegara]

yes you are right! that's funny coincidence, they also look similar clay wise and shape wise. In the end the one I purchased one year ago ended up performing quite good imo and I'm still using it happily... but that's certainly not a good indicator of its intrinsic quality as an yixing pot. Nonetheless, the fact that it's the same vendor tells a lot!

[Bok]

The vendor isn't an yixing focused one, is a generic antique vendor, and he surely didn't clean the pot prior to selling it/photographing it so the dirt on the bottom of the pot could be dirt maybe. Actually the pot didn't seem that bad clay wise and, in my humble and surely not expert opinion, I saw signs of a not slip casted/ molded teapot and saw signs of hand work instead

I don't think the vendor would be at fault here, probably just clueless. Although having more than one very similarily made pots in the inventory could point to a purposeful intent. But maybe not. Watch his shop and you'll find out...

As others have mentioned, dirt would not naturally form like this, this is an attempt at faking patina, in the best case with dirt, in the worst with enamels, or other chemical colours. As any scale modelling hobbyist and they will have suggestions

It is also not full hand made for sure, looks more like some finishing/clean-up touches after a mass produced mechanical method.